Connection strings

Guest User

Hi

I have the following connection string in my Web.Config which was automatically generated with my Entity Framework and SQL Database setup. The first part is the Entity Framework map and the second is the SQL Database map.

connectionString="metadata=res://*/DataAccess.DC.csdl|res://*/DataAccess.DC.ssdl|res://*/DataAccess.DC.msl;provider=System.Data.SqlClient;

provider connection string= Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\DCECommerceDB.mdf;Integrated Security=True;

User Instance=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=True"" providerName="System.Data.EntityClient"/>

My question is, im not sure as to why the provider keyword is present before the connection string of the SQL Database map, is this really needed?

Regards

Steven

3 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Vulpes14y ago
Accepted answer
Yes, if you're using the SqlClient for the Entity Framework, then you should be able to slot in a standard SQL Server connection string.
Guest User14y ago
Thanks Vulpes I think I understand.

In the event that I wish to change the SQL Connection string to match that of a given string from a hosted provider, I assume it should be a simple case of replacement ie:-

// Existing string

provider connection string= Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\DCECommerceDB.mdf;Integrated Security=True;
User Instance=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=True"" providerName="System.Data.EntityClient"/>

// Hosting provider string

Data Source=newhostingserver; Initial Catalog=dbname; User ID=username; Password='password';

// New connection string

provider connection string=

Data Source=newhostingserver; Initial Catalog=dbname; User ID=username; Password='password';

Regards
Vulpes14y ago
If it's automatically generated, then the likelihood is that it is needed because it serves to distinguish between the two connection strings.

If the second string were not prefixed by 'provider', then I suppose you could still tell the difference because 'connection string' is two words in the second string and one word in the first string but the prefix makes the purpose of the second string clearer.